Lawmakers have unveiled the $1.2 trillion government funding deal in the hopes of preventing a government shutdown this weekend.
The bill covers half of the 12 yearly government funding bills, providing funding for the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security, in addition to general government and foreign operations. Additionally, the funding package includes $824.3 billion for the Department of Defense, $19.6 billion for Customs and Border operations and $90 billion for Homeland Security.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement Republicans got $20 billion in proposed cuts to the IRS, and also welcomed funds that increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity and funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents. Johnson added: “overall, during the FY24 appropriations process, House Republicans have achieved significant conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals and imposed substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense.” Democrats received $1 billion increase in child care and Head Start funding, as well as more money for Alzheimer’s and cancer research and “climate change and resilience activities.”
For vital operations like Defense, Homeland Security, State Department and Labor, Health and Human Services departments to avoid interruption, the funding package must be finalized by Saturday morning. President Joe Biden said the House and the Senate are working to pass the package, which he pledged to sign immediately.
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